From the Bookshelf of History in Vogue…

Bel-Ami

Guy de Maupassant

Start date: September 1, 2015

Finish date: September 30, 2015

Discussion leader: Marie Williams

Why we're reading this: Group Reading for September 2015
[close] Group Reading for September 2015

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What Members Thought

Sep 04, 2015 Andrea AKA Catsos Person rated it did not like it

Shelves: classic-literature, zread-in-2015

The plot was not interesting in itself. The only interest I could keep was the " what will happen next" in the hope that something interesting would eventually occur. Nothing compelling ever did occur.

The ending was an unexpected and an almost anti-climax because there was no payoff for me having put up with this book. The ending fizzled for me.

I did not like the narrative style/manner in which it was written.

Hopefully, the next time I try this author, I'll have a more enjoyable experience.

I r ...more

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Jul 05, 2022 Preetam Chatterjee rated it it was amazing

Shelves: classic-novels, the-greatest-books-of-all-time

This is the tale of a scoundrel who soars to a locus of wealth and power by publishing the story of his first wife’s ignominy and later deceiving her of share of her wealth. The corrupt arriviste and the women he fools are among the chefs-d'oeuvre of representation fashioned by the French realistic school. Maupassant was an enthusiastic follower of Flaubert. For this very cause, one finds lithe prose and prudently selected details, as well as the inconspicuous satire of the novel, true to Flaube ...more

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